pour your milk in the cup first...holding back the froth. Then scoop froth on top of the milk. Pour your espresso from a bell pitcher down the center of the froth. Pour slowly but constant. Scoop a wee bit of froth and cover the spot where you poured the espresso...try it and tell me what you think.
I always mix sweetner/syrups in the cup, never steam it in the milk. The sugar hardens if you do it alot in the crevices in the steam wand, although if you clean it meticulously I guess you could avoid that.
Well I do ensure to have the steam want totally clean, and wiped off before anything else gets done. Also soak you steamwand in soda water overnight, and WOW! your steamwand will be like new...no matter haw it looked before.